Seasonal Trout Streams Open March 31

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (3/23/2012)

More than one million trout will be stocked by the end of this year, thanks to efforts by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In fact, many streams will be stocked by the end of March, just in time for the opening day of seasonal trout stream fishing, Sat., March 31.

“Our goal is to replenish all of our stocked streams before Opening Day,” says John Lee Thomson, acting trout stocking coordinator for the Wildlife Resources Division. “The mild winter gave us great growing conditions for trout in our hatcheries, and good stream flows this spring will give us the opportunity to spread the fish out. It should be another excellent opening week of the Georgia trout season.”

Some popular seasonal streams include Cooper Creek in Union County, Sarah’s Creek in Rabun County, Dicks Creek in Lumpkin County and Johns Creek in Floyd County. Anglers should note that two popular streams, Boggs Creek in Lumpkin County and Wildcat Creek in Rabun County, will not be accessible to vehicles and will not be stocked with trout for an extended period. Tornado damage clean-up continues in the Boggs Creek watershed, while the Wildcat Creek Road, affected by a winter landslide, will undergo repairs. Trout stocking in these two streams will resume when the public access roads can be reopened.

Anglers must possess both a current Georgia fishing license and a trout license to fish in designated trout waters and to fish for or possess trout. Licenses can be purchased online and at various local sporting good dealers. The daily limit is eight trout on general regulation trout waters. Anglers are reminded to respect private property rights along streams flowing through private lands and to obtain permission before fishing on private property.

For those seeking additional county-specific trout fishing information, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com[2]where current Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations, a complete list of stocked streams, a Northeast Georgia fishing guide, and the award-winning Trout Streams of Georgia map are available. Printed copies of the regulations and trout stream map are available at all Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Management offices and at some official fishing license dealers.